Louisiana is home to numerous schools, including 10 public universities spread across several campuses, 10 independent colleges, 13 community colleges, and various trade and vocational schools. Here we take a closer look at Louisiana’s higher education scene, including how much it costs, what graduates earn once they enter the workforce, how much debt they incur, and what programs are available for students seeking assistance. If you’re considering attending college in Louisiana, keep reading to find out more.

Best Louisiana Colleges: 2017-2018 Rankings

With so much information available about potential colleges, it can be frustrating to keep it all straight. Choosing a school goes beyond looking at statistics, but rankings can be a great place to start to narrow the options. Our rankings of the best Louisiana colleges take into account several factors, including tuition cost, financial aid, student-teacher ratio and more.

Search & Compare Colleges in Louisiana

Different students have different priorities and requirements for selecting a school. Our search tool makes it possible to sort through the choices using specific criteria, such as the size of the student population and type of institution. Prospective students can then compare the results side-by-side to help make a more informed decision.

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College Planning, Assistance and Outreach Programs in Louisiana

Whether it’s a high school student planning on moving into the college world, a college student striking out into the workforce, or someone returning to school after years of being away from the classroom, good resources are the key to making sure the college experience is smooth and productive. These state programs aim to provide students with a helping hand.

The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, a scholarship opportunity for Louisiana residents, is aimed at those who plan to attend a public Louisiana college or university, including those that are part of the community and technical college system; an approved proprietary or cosmetology school; or one of the member institutions of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. There are four main awards under the TOPS umbrella: the opportunity, performance, honors and tech awards. The amount of money awarded varies from year to year.

This program, at work in high schools across the state, encourages students to work closely with their high school counselors to learn about the college application process and assist fellow students, and to earn scholarships in the process. Students learn what tasks are required in order to apply and gain admittance into college, receive financial assistance, and succeed in their educational and professional goals.

The state of Louisiana offers this grant program to nontraditional students and those with low or moderate incomes. Those who receive a Pell grant and still have financial need after all other sources have been exhausted are ideal candidates for the grant, which provides from $300 to $3,000 per year to each eligible student. Students can be either full-time or part-time, and the grant can be renewed every year.

This program focuses on career and technical education (CTE), preparing students to earn certifications in high-wage professions and get into the workforce as soon as possible upon graduation. Students who participate in the program are required to attain certain credentials in order to graduate with a career diploma; the plan is to provide students with the training necessary to work in skilled positions throughout the state.

Evaluating the Cost of College in Louisiana

With uncertainty in the state budget trickling down to affect the budgets of its universities and financial aid awards, it’s important for aspiring college students in Louisiana to take a close look at the costs of an education. The following charts break down the average tuition rates, availability of financial aid, and the average amount offered to students at Louisiana colleges. We’ve also compared the numbers to the national average for a more well-rounded view.

Most Affordable Colleges in Louisiana

Seeing the cost of tuition can be enough to make anyone gasp. But keep in mind that tuition is not the bottom line: net price is. Net price is the cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and other expenses, minus any financial aid received. We compared Louisiana colleges on net price and these six came out on top of all other institutions in the state.

Louisiana Colleges with Highest-Paid Alumni

The salary that students can expect once they graduate from college varies greatly depending upon the line of work they choose; however, some colleges in Louisiana boast alumni that make more than others. We looked at colleges that produce the highest-paid alumni ten years after they entered college, with the following ranking the highest:

Colleges in Louisiana With Least Student Debt

A great paycheck is nice, but the amount taken out to repay student loans can put a damper on the savings account. These Louisiana colleges produce alumni with the lowest student debt in the state; we’ve also compared them with the national average for a broader perspective.

Louisiana Cost of Living: College Expenses Beyond Tuition

Fortunately for college students, the cost of living in Louisiana is less than the national average. Some costs-particularly healthcare, utilities and housing-come in significantly lower, which bodes well for those who might be planning to live off-campus. The following chart highlights the major metro areas in Louisiana, details the cost of living in those areas, and compares them to the state as a whole.

Accreditation for Louisiana Colleges

Colleges can demonstrate their quality by earning accreditation from independent bodies that evaluate a school based on rigorous standards. Accreditation is vital: students who graduate from non-accredited schools might find that potential employers do not recognize their degree, and credits from non-accredited institutions often do not transfer to accredited ones. In addition to ensuring a quality education, accreditation also matters when it comes to financial aid, as students are often required to attend accredited schools to be eligible for financial assistance.

Popular College Cities in Louisiana

Baton Rouge

Situated on the Mississippi River, the state capital draws some 57,000 businesses. The influx of business has made Baton Rouge a hub of commerce that includes finance, healthcare, education, research and development, manufacturing, transportation, construction, distribution and renewable energy sources. These employers require skilled, educated workers; following are a few of the city's colleges that are poised to help students take advantage of these opportunities.

The state's largest university, LSU is home to more than 31,000 students who study in 72 baccalaureate programs, 70 master's programs and 46 doctoral programs, with another 22 specialty programs available. Some departments particularly stand out; for example, the Robert S. Reich School of Landscape Architecture is one of the country's top schools for undergraduate education. LSU's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico also makes it a draw for petroleum engineers, who can study at at the Petroleum Engineering Research & Technology Transfer Laboratory.

Established in 1923, this Catholic college focuses strongly on healthcare. Degree paths include nursing, health sciences, humanities, behavioral sciences and natural sciences. The school is closely affiliated with the Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, one of the largest healthcare facilities in the area. Currently accredited to serve undergraduate and graduate students, by 2023 the college will be a doctoral-granting institution as well, with a projected enrollment of 2,500 students.

This popular college started operations in 1998 expecting 700 students; instead, enrollment surpassed 1,800. BRCC offers a strong academic foundation in a variety of programs, including those in science, liberal arts, construction management, general studies, allied health and more. By 2012, enrollment had increased to over 8,200 students, spread over eight campuses in the Baton Rouge area.

New Orleans

The colorful history of New Orleans is well-known, and today the city embraces the blend of cultures in the city with a fun, friendly atmosphere. Students at colleges and universities in the area will have plenty of opportunity for enjoyment outside of their studies, but higher education is still serious business in the Big Easy.

Delgado is the city's largest institution of higher learning, and the oldest and largest community college in the state. It serves 16,000 students through 35 associate programs, 73 certificate and diploma programs, and over 100 non-credit courses. Transfer articulation agreements are in place with most four-year universities in the state, often allowing students to save money during their first two years of education.

Founded in 1834, Tulane was one of the first educational institutions in the city; in fact, the School of Business is the oldest college of commerce in the United States. Today students can choose from over 70 majors in schools of business, architecture, science and engineering, public health and liberal arts. About a third of students opt for a double-major. More than 13,000 students are enrolled at Tulane, and in 2015 they contributed over 780,000 civic hours to rebuilding in New Orleans, 10 years after Hurricane Katrina decimated the area.

UNO sits on the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, where over 8,000 students roam the 195-acre campus. With 34 undergraduate programs and 40 graduate programs to choose from, students here also enjoy an affordable education; UNO has long been recognized as a school with low student debt. Students can count on a strong education from learned faculty; over 80 percent of the school's instructors have a doctorate or terminal degree in their field.

Louisiana College Resources

Many organizations in Louisiana work together to make college life a reality for students; they also work hard after students graduate to ensure they find the jobs that make them strong, productive members of society. Here are some of those organizations.

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